Steam engine



6 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. N. LYNN.

STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

JJVVEJVTOR aua WITNESSES 4%. @M/p A Attorney:

I 0 m. wesnm wn. D. c.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M. N. LYNN.

STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

].7\ VEJVTOR A.. Attorney:

WITNESSES 6 Sheefis-Sheet s.

(No Model.)

M. N. LYNN.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 335,530. Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

I WITNESSES (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. N. LYNN,

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 335,530. Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

." K pm.

WITJV'ESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. M. N. LYNN.

STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

' No. 335,530. Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

' WITNESSES (NoModeL) M. N. LYNN.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 335,530. Patented Feb. 2, 1886'.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MIRABEAU N. LYNN, OF RISING SUN, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN ELEC- TRICHEADLIGHT COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335.530, dated February2, 1886.

Application filed December 31,1884. Serial No. 151,636. No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ll/IIRABEAU N. LYNN, of Rising Sun, in the county ofOhio and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being badto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andto the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates more espe cially to that class ofsteam-engines wherein a number of separate cylinders and pistons arecombined to actuate a single main drivingshaft; and it consists in theseveral novel combinations, arrangements, and constructions of parts, ashereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims, wherebythe number of necessary parts is reduced, the construction simplified,and the efficiency of the engine correspondingly increased.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention as applied to afour-cylinder engine, for use as a farm or portable engine, Figure 1 isa side elevation, partly in section; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section;Fig. 3, a sectional view of the reversing mechanism applied to theeccentric. Fig. etis a longitudinal section of one of thevalve-cylinders. Fig. 5 is an end view ofoneofsaid cylinders. Fig. 6 isa side view, and Figs. 7 and S longitudinal and transverse sections,respectively, of thevalve. Fig. 9 is a detail showing one of thebearingblooks for attaching the valve to its pitman. Figs. 10, 11, 12,and 13 are details of the valve-rod or pitman; Figs. 14 and 15, side andedge views of the valve-eccentric; Figs 16 and 17, side and edge viewsof the eccentric strap or yoke; Figs. 18 to 24, inclusive, details ofthe piston-rods or pitmen and collar; and Fig. 26 a view of the pistonrods or pitmen and attachments for application to the crank or wristpin. Fig. 30 is a sectional View illustrating a convenient mode ofdetachably securing the supplemental to the main casing.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

Upon the hollow main frame or casing A of the engine are mounted thecylinders A, four in number, whoseinner ends communicate with theinterior of the said casing, their outer ends being closed by theremovable heads A, bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto in anywell-known manner. On the side, and near the outer end of each cylinder,is formed a seat, A to receive the valve-cylinder B. The valve-cylinder13, Figs. 1, 4, and 5, are each provided with a seat, b, correspondingwith the seat A on the cylinder, a steamchest, I), and two collars, bbetween which latter is formed an annular chamber, b all of which parts,with the addition of the branch steam pipe or fitting B, extending fromthe seat I) to the steam-chest b, may, if desired, be cast in one piece.The annular chamber 1) of the valve-cylinder communicates with theinterior of the cylinder A through the steamport a in seat A while thepipe B connects with the steam-pipe 0 through an opening, a, in saidseat.

Two of the valve-cylinders B of the series have but a single branchpipe, B, while the intermediate cylinders have two such pipes, as sh ownin Fig. 1,whereby the several steamohests b are all putin communicationthrough the connecting steam-pipes O, to any one or all of which thesteam-supply pipe is at tached.

Each valve-cylinder B is connected to the casing A by a cylinder ortube, D, attached to the said casing, and extending through the collarsb into the steam-chest I). These cylinders are rcmovably secured to thecasing A, and are screw-threaded into the collars b the permanency ofthe connection or joint at this point being secured by the applicationof the jam nuts or threaded collars I), between which latter and thecollars 1) suitable packing material may be placed, if desired. A seriesof perforations, d, are formed in the tube D opposite and communicatingwith the annular chamber 1).

WVithin the casing A is arranged a bearingblock, E, for the maindriving-shaft, and the ends of the said casing are closed, the one by aremovable head, E, and the other by a similar head, or, as in thepresent instance, by the hollow extension or casing E as shown in Fig.3. The casings E and A may be cast i11- tegral, orthey may be madeseparate and bolted or otherwise secured together, as cir' cumstancesrequire. When the. engine is adapted for use in connection with afarm-engine, as shown, the casings are provided with the dependentflanges e e, which conform to and rest upon the boiler. 1

The main driving-shaft F extends longitudinally through the casings Aand E and is supported in cone-bearings f f f The bearings fandf, theformer secured in the end [O of easing E and the latter inthebearing-block E, open out in the same direction, and the bearing fwhich is secured to the head E of the casing A,opens in the oppositedirection, and the crank F is located intermediate the bearingsff.

It will be observed that as thus constructed and arranged the main shaftand its connecting mechanism is entirely covered and inclosed within thecasing, and the end bearings can readily be adjusted to compensate forwear without taking the machine apart, and-when it is desired to insertor remove the shaft it can conveniently be accomplished by removing thebearingf and sliding the shaft through the head of the casing A.

Within each cylinder A is contained a piston, to which is pivotallyattached a pitman or connecting rod, G, after the manner indicated in myapplication No. 127,383, filed April 10,1884, and the several pitmen arecombined and applied to the crank F in' the following manner: One pitmanis provided with ahead, 9, having a semicircular groove or bearing, 9,fitting the crank-pin, and flanges gon opposite sides, forming a way toreceive the arms g, of a sectional strap or yoke, G, which embraces thecrank-pin and contains the other half-bearing,g This yoke G is dividedlongitudinally into two half-sections, 4Q 9 each formed with aninnerflange or shou1 der, 9, and an outer flange or shoulder, 9 thelatternarrower but projecting in the same direction and concentric withthe inner flange, g, as shown in Fig. 24. The sections 9 when broughttogether, as shown in Fig. 25, are applied to the head 9, as indicatedin Fig. 25, and secured in place by the gibs and keys passing throughsaid head and the keyway 9 formed in the proximate faces of the sectionsThe remaining pitmen G are each provided with a curved bearing, 9fitting the outer surface of flange y, and with a flange or shoulder, 9on either side, concentric with the bearing and adapted to fit the spaceor 5 groove 9 between the flanges g and g.

In applying the pitmen to the crank those having the flanges g. arefirst placed in position with their flanges between the flanges g and gof the sections and the latter are 60 brought together until their innerflanges, 9 make contact. The yoke G and the head g of the remainingpitmen are next applied to the crank-pin, and the whole is clamped andfirmly secured in position bythegib and key passed 65 through the head 9and the keyway g in the section 9?. Thus by the simple removal of thekey all the pitmen may be readily detached from the crank-pin.

The pistons are single acting, the steam under pressure being admittedto the outer ends of the cylinders only, the exhaust-steam beingdelivered into the hollow casing, where, together with the oil, itserves to lubricate the several bearings.

The valves H, for controlling the passage of steam to and from thecylinders A, are tubular in form and operate within the cylinders D,connecting the valve-cylinders with the easing A. All the valves arealike, and each is composed, essentially, of a piston or diaphragm, h,provided with or having secured thereto two tubular extensions, thepiston serving to divide the valve into two cupshaped sections, theouter, h, communicating with the steam-chest b, and the inner, h, withthe casing A, through the cylinder D. A series of circular openings orports, h are formed in the section h above the piston, and a similarseries of openings or ports, h preferably elongated to increase theirarea, are formed in thesection it below the piston. As thus constructed,arranged, and applied, the valves H being reciprocated by appropriatemechanism and at proper intervals within the tube D, the steam is firstadmitted to the cylinder A and above the piston, through the ports kperforations (Z, and chamber b. The return-stroke of the valve closesthe perfora tions d, allowing the steam in the cylinder to actexpansively until the openings or ports h below the piston arriveopposite the-perforations (2, when the steam contained in the cylinderis exhausted into the cylinder D and passes to the interior of thecasing A.

The mechanism which I prefer to employ for actuating the valves H isconstructed and applied as follows: Upon the lower or inner end'of thevalve is secured or formed a crosspiece. I, provided with a concavebearing, i, adapted to receive the cross-head t" on the no pitman I,Fig. 11, the said cross-head being held in place by the bearing-blockst, bolted to ends of the cross-piece I. The several pitmen I are formedwith sockets i on the end, Fig. 10, adapted to receive and retain byscrew threads or otherwise the detachable heads J, Figs. 12, 13, 16, and17, which latter are applied to the eccentric, as hereinafter described.

Upon the eccentric K, borne by the main shaft, is fitted a dividedcollar or ring, K, Figs. 16 and 17, the two sections k k whereof areeach formed or provided with a semi-cylindrical arm, is, and twoconcentric flanges, k k, forming an annular groove, 7c. The 12 outerflange, 76 is narrower than the inner flange, W, and when the twosections are brought together the arms is can be inserted within one ofthe sockets, 6 thereby retaining the sections inplace, with their innerflanges, h in contact, forming a central bearing concentric with theeccentric, and with a flange,

k, on either side thereof. Upon the bearing thus formed by the innerflanges, k is fitted the arc-shaped bearing or saddle j of thedetachable heads J, the fiangesj thereof being received under theflanges k on either side of the collar or ring It. It will thus be seenthat the several heads, J, (each provided with a shank, j fitting thesocket t in one of the pitmen I,) are independently mounted or supportedupon the collar or ring K in such manher as to be free to move thereonbetween the collars k k, and that they are all clamped and held inposition by the bringing together of the two sections it and theinsertion of the arms into one of the sockets i of the pitman, wherebythe several pitmen may readily be disconnected from the eccentric by thewithdrawal of the pitman from the arms k of the collar K and theseparation of the two sections k.

The detachable heads J are duplicates of each other, and can readily bereplaced when worn or broken, and the same is true of the valves andtheir several connected parts.

The eccentric K may be mounted upon and connected to the main shaft inany well-known manner; but I prefer the following arrange ment, asproviding an efficient mechanism and means for reversing the eccentric,and hence the direction of rotation.

The eccentric K is formed upon or attached to a sleeve, L, embracing themain shaft, and provided with a spiral groove or slot, 1, into avhich astud or pin, Z, attached to a second sleeve, L, projects. This sleeve Lfits over and slides upon the sleeve L, being connected to rotate withthe main shaft by a feather and groove. It is further provided with aseries of parallel teeth out or formed on its external surface,constituting a circular rack, with which the teeth of a pinion, Z",mesh, said pinion being mounted upon a transverse shaft provided with ahand-wheel (not shown) and operating within the casing E.

When the engine is in operation, the sleeve L, revolving with the mainshaft, communicates motion to the eccentric through the medium of thepin and the groove in the sleeve L, thereby actuating the valves. Toreverse the position of the valves it is only necessary to reciprocatethe sleeve L by means of the pinion Z as by so doing the pin or stud Z,acting against the walls of the spiral groove in the sleeve L, willproduce a partial rotation of the latter, and with it the eccentric andvalves.

Although the engine proper is adapted for use in other connections, asis apparent, I have shown it herein as especially modified and adaptedto be applied upon the horizontal boilers of a farm-engine, and to thatend the extension E of the casingA is employed. This extension or casingE is designed to inclose not only the shaft and the reversing mechanism,but also the driving-pinion M and gear M on the vertical shaft M whichlatter communicates motion to the traction mechanism. By thus inclosingthe working parts not only are they protected from dirt and injury, butthey are subjected to thclubricatingactlon of the exhaust-steam and theoil carried there with from the cylinders, when, as is usual, the oil isfed in with the live steam.

The engine thus constructed and arranged combines many valuableandimportant qualities. It is simple in construction, compact,noiseless, selflubricatiug, protected from injury, can readily be takenapart and expeditiously set up, is practically noiseless in operation,and most of its parts are interchangeable and can be removed andreplaced at comparatively little cost.

By supporting the shaft in cone bearings,as described, and the outerbearing in the head of the main casing or exhaust-cylinder A thebearings can readily be setup, and when desired the shaft can bewithdrawn through the end of the casing. V

In Figs. 27, 28, and 29 I have illustrated what I deem a modification ofthe means for applying the several pitmen or piston-rods to the crank.Instead of dividing the strap or yoke G longitudinally and grooving it,as described,to receive the T or flanged head of the pitman, asdescribed with reference to Figs. 18 to 26, inclusive, two straps, Gr Gare employed, the inner strap, G applied directly to the crank or wristpin and furnishing the bearing for the heads of pitmen G, while theouter strap, G, slotted as at g", for the reception of the pitnien, isplaced over the strap. G and the two united to the heady by the gib andkey 9. As thus constructed the pitmen have their bearing upon the innerstrap, and are held in place and guided by the outer strap, G betweenwhich and the strap G the flanges g on the pitman are confined.

I am aware that multiple cylinder-engines have been devised wherein thecrank-pin has been formed upon or attached to the end of the shaft andconnected to drive shifting valveoperating mechanism, the whole beingcontained within an inclosing-case constituting the main frame, beyondwhich latter the shaft is extended and the driving gear or mechanismapplied thereto at some point beyond the main frame, as disclosed inPatent No. 185,293, and the construction as thus described andillustrated in said patent is herein disclaimed as representing adifferent invention from that herein claimed. V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the main casing, the cylinders mounted thereon,and exhausting into said casing, the main shaft having bearings therein,and the reversing mechanism and driving-gears located in thesupplemental casing applied to the main casing, and communicatingtherewith, as described, whereby all the working mechanism is protectedand subjected to the lubricating action of the exhaust-steam andoil,substantially as described.

2. In combination with the main and supplemental casing connected andmounted upon the boiler, as described, the driving-shaft extendingthrough said casingand supported in bearings therein, the crank-pitmanand cylinders located at one end, and the driving-gear at the oppositeend and Within the said casing, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In combination with the main shaft, the crank located at one end, andthe drivinggears at the other, the eccentric and shifting mechanismlocated intermediate the crank and driving-gear, and the casinginclosing the shaft and the operating mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a direct-acting steanrengine, a frame for the actuating mechanism,consisting, essentially, of a main casing, to which are applied thepiston and valve cylinders, as described, and provided wit-h bearingsfor the main shaft, and the supplemental casing applied to and formingan extension of the main casing, said supplemental casing being providedwith bearings for the main shaft and counter-shaft, substantially as andfor the purpose set' forth.

5. In a direct-acting steam-engine, the main frame having the maincasing carrying the piston and valve cylinders, and adapted to inclosethe crank on the driving-shaft, and the supplemental casing applied tothe end and forming a continuation of the main casing, said supplementalcasing being adapted to receive the devices for shifting the eccentric,and both of said casings with bearings to support the shaft, and aflange or bracket, 6, for application to the boiler, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination,in adirect-acting steamengine, of the main casingcarrying the radial piston and valve cylinders, the supplemental casingapplied to and forming an extension of the main casing, a driving-shaftextending through both of said casings and supported in bearingstherein, devices, such as described, mounted upon the driving-shaft, forreversing the valve-eccentric, and located within the supplementalcasing, and a crank to which the pistons are connected, located withinthe main casing, substantially as described.

7. In a direct-acting steam-engine, the combination, with the maincasing carrying the radial piston and valve cylinders, and thesupplemental casing applied to and forming an extension of the maincasing, of the crankshaft extending through both of said casings, andcarrying the ad'ustable valve-eccentric, said shaft having its hearingsin the ends or heads of the two casings, with a third bearingintermediate the crank and valve eccentric, substantially as described.

8. In a direct-acting steam-engine wherein the operating parts areinclosed, the combination of the main and supplemental casings, thepiston and valve cylinders applied to the main casing, the main shaftextending through both casings, the crank and valve-eccentric appliedtothe said shaft at one end and within the main casing, the driving-gearapplied to the opposite end, and within the supplemental casing, and thevalve-adjusting mechanism applied intermediate the said crank and gear,substantially as described.

MIRABEAU N. LYNN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE N. .WHEELER, F. C. BRYAN.

